Flash-lamp assembly for cameras



Sept. 21, 1965 A. FISCHER 3,207,890

FLASH-LAMP ASSEMBLY FOR CAMERAS Filed July 9, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet lINVENTOR.

ARTUR FISCHER Sept. 21, 1965 A. FISCHER 3,207,890

FLASH-LAMP ASSEMBLY FOR CAMERAS Filed July 9, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 4Fig.3

a\ l/ll/l INVENTOR.

ARTUR FISCHER Tab DMZ f. mew

Sept. 21, 1965 A. FISCHER FLASH-LAMP ASSEMBLY FOR CAMERAS Filed July 9,1962 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fig.8

INVENTOR.

ARTUR FISCHER 7114:1404 J. fr/1W United States Patent 3,207,890FLASH-LAMP ASSEMBLY FOR CAMERAS Artur Fischer, Grueumettstetterstr. 133,Tumlingen, Kreis Freudenstadt, Black Forest, Germany Filed July 9, 1962,Ser. No. 208,448 Claims priority, application Germany, July 20, 1961, F20,573; July 21, 1961, F 34,483 18 Claims. (Cl. 2401.3)

The present invention relates to flash-lamp assemblies particularly ofthe type which include a plurality of re flector sections capable ofbeing collapsed and expanded.

There are known flash lamp assemblies which include reflectors made upof a plurality of reflector sections which are circumferentially movedin order to collapse or expand the reflector, and with structures ofthis type the assembled reflector sections usually remain exposed unlessthe reflector is provided with a special cover which must be mounted onor removed from the assembly by the operator, so that either thereflector sections remain undesirably exposed or it is necessary, toprovide a special cover which the operator must carry about and mustmount on or remove from the assembly. While there are springy, one-piecereflectors which can be moved into or out of a housing, such reflectorshave very poor reflecting properties and do not provide the bestlighting conditions.

It is accordingly a primary object of the present invention to provide aflash-lamp assembly with a plurality of reflector sections which will beautomatically covered in the collapsed position of the reflector andwhich do not require any operations such as circumferential turning ofthe reflector sections between collapsed and expanded conditions or thecarrying about and manipulation of special covering structure.

A further object of the present is to provide a flashlamp assembly witha structure which enables the reflector sections to be easily andquickly moved between closed and open positions While beingautomatically covered in their closed position.

It is furthermore an object of the present invention to provide astructure of the above type which enables the operator to select thepositions, of the reflector sections with respect to the reflector axisfor varying the degree with which the beam of light reflected by thereflector is concentrated.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide reflectorsections which cooperate with each other in such a way that they remainin overlapping relation while properly guiding each other between theirclosed and open positions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a structure whichwill reliably and efliciently guide moving parts of the flash-lampassembly.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a flash-lampassembly of the above type with a structure which will releasably retainthe reflector sections in their open position.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a flash-lampassembly of the above type which is of an extremely simple constructionwhile at the same time being convenient to handle and operate andproviding an extremely good illumination.

Furthermore, the object of the invention include the provision of aflash-lamp assembly which is extremely compact so that it will notoccupy a large amount of space and which at the same time has individualcomponents which are inexpensive to manufacture.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide aflash-lamp assembly of the above type which renders it extremely simpleand convenient to change ice one battery for another and which alsopositions the various electrical components of the flash-lamp assemblyin a manner making the best possible use of the available space.

Among the objects of the present invention is also the provision of aflash-lamp assembly of the above type which when it is not connected toa camera and thus is not in use can be placed in a position where theentire assembly is easily transported about without any inconvenienceresulting, for example, from an electrical cable projecting from theassembly.

With the above objects in view the invention includes, in a flash-lampassembly, a reflector means which has a reflector axis and includes aplurality of reflector sections distributed about this axis. An annularcarrier means carries the reflector sections and amounts them formovement toward the reflector axis to a closed position and away fromthe reflector axis to an open position, the carrier means alsocooperating with the reflector sections to prevent circumferentialmovement thereof with respect to the reflector axis. An elongatedtubular member extends through the annular carrier means to support itfor shifting movement along the reflector axis, so that this tubularmember forms a support means for the carrier means, and the elongatedtubular member in addition acts as a lamp receptacle. This elongatedtubular support means forms part of a housing of the flashlamp assembly,and this housing has a portion adapted to accommodate a battery in aposition extending parallel to the reflector axis as well as anadditional tubular pzort ion surrounding the annular carrier means andparticipating in guiding the longitudinal shifting movement thereof, aresilient yieldable means cooperating with the reflector sections duringmovement of the carrier means along the reflector axis for moving thereflector sections away from the reflector axis to their open positions.

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for theinvention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. Theinvention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, inwhich:

FIG. 1 shows in a perspective view a housing of a flashlamp assemblyaccording to the invention with the structure carried by this housing,part of the housing being broken away to more clearly illustrate thestructure carried by the housing and the rear cover of the housing beingshown in FIG. 1 separated from the rest of the housing to illustratemore clearly the structure of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the flash-lamp assembly ofthe invention, the assembly being shown in FIG. 2 where the reflector isin its collapsed position and FIG. 2 being taken along line II-II ofFIG. 1 in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 3 is a sectional plan view taken along line III III of FIG. 1 inthe direction of the arrows and showing in particular that part of thestructure where the reflector is located and where there is located thestructure which cooperates with the reflector;

FIG. 4 shows the reflector of FIG. 3 in an open position different fromthat of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary partly sectional perspective illustration of thereflector structure and in particular FIG. 5 shows the structure formoving the reflector sections to their open position and for maintainingthe circumferential relationship between the reflector sections;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the structureof FIG.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional illustration of yetanother embodiment of a reflector with a structure for carrying thesame; and

FIG. 8 shows a still further embodiment of a structure for moving thereflector sections to their open position.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the housing 1 of the flashlamp assembly ofthe invention is molded, for example, from a plastic, electricallynon-conductive material and includes an outer tubular portion 2 whichforms a guide as will be apparent from the description below. This outertubular portion 2 of the housing 1 merges with the Wall portions 3thereof, and these wall portions 3 form an additional housing portionwhich defines the chamber 4 which is adapted to receive the elongatedbattery 5 in the form of a conventional dry cell battery of the typeused in flashlights. The housing 1 includes in addition to the outertubular portion 2 and the walls 3 a transverse wall portion 6 whichserves to connect coaxially to the outer tubular portion 2 in theinterior thereof an inner tubular housing portion 7 which forms a lampreceptacle and which also forms a support means as described below. Theinner tubular portion 7 and the outer tubular portion 2 of the housing 1define an elongated annular chamber 8, and it will be noted that theaxis AA of the battery 5 is parallel to the axis 3-13 of the elongatedhollow annular chamber 8.

An annular carrier means is axially shiftable in the elongated chamber8, and this carrier means 9 is of substantially U-shaped cross-sectionand is formed from a pair of ring-shaped angle members. The carriermeans 9 carriers a reflector means whose axis coincides with the axisBB, and this reflector means includes a plurality of substantiallyrigid, curved reflector sections 10 which are distributed about thereflector axis and which cooperate to form the reflector. As is apparentfrom FIG. 2, each reflector section 10 has a free rear end portion 12extending at a given angle with respect to the remainder of thereflector section and extending into the hollow space 11 defined by theportions 9a and 9b which form the carrier means 9, these end portions 12of the reflector sections directly engaging and being carried by thecarrier means 9. In addition, the carrier means 9 mounts the reflectorsections 10 for turning movement toward the reflector axis to a closedposition illustrated in FIG. 2 and away from the reflector axis to anopen position illustrated, for example, in FIG. 3. Each reflectorsection 10 has an intermediate portion 13 located between its rear endportion 12 and the remainder of the reflector section. An endless coilspring 14 surrounds and engages the rear end portions 12 of thereflector sections to urge these portions 12 against the innerperipheral wall of the carrier means 9 and thus urge the reflectorsections 10 away from the reflector axis to their open position, so thatthe spring 14 forms a means for yieldably and resiliently retaining thereflector sections in their open position. As is apparent particularlyfrom FIG. 5, the free rear end portions 12 of the reflector sections 10terminate in outwardly directed tongues 12a while forwardly of thesetongues 12a the reflector sections 10 are respectively provided withoutwardly directed lugs 15, and the spring 14 extends between the lugs15 and the tongues 12a of the reflector sections. The tongues 12a areintegral with the reflector sections and the lugs 15 may be struck fromthe reflector sections themselves. Thus, the spring 14 acts to urge thereflector sections 10 to turn in the direction of the arrow at of FIG. 3away from the reflector axis tothe open position of the reflector. Inorder to prevent the reflector sections 10 from shifting in thedirection of the arrow b of FIG. 3 out of the hollow interior 11 of thecarrier means 9, the lower portion 9b of the carrier means 9 terminatesat its front edge in an outwardly directed flange 16 (FIG. 2), and thisflange 16 engages the edge portions 1212 (FIG. 5)

at the junction between the end portions 12 and the remainder of thereflector sections so that in this way movement of the several reflectorsections in the direction of the arrow b of FIG. 3 relative to thecarrier means 9 is limited.

The carrier means 9 also cooperates with the several reflector sections10 to prevent circumferential movement thereof about the axis of thereflector means which if formed by the reflector sections 10, and forthis purpose the carrier means 9 is provided at the front end of itsportion 9b with outwardly directed projections extending into cutoutsformed in the several reflector sections 10. Thus, according to theembodiment illustrated in FIG. 5 each reflector section 10 is formedwith a pair 'of opposed notches 17a: and 17b extending inwardly from itsopposite side edge and between which the intermediate portion 13 of eachreflector section 10 is located, and each projection 18 at the front endof the portion 9b of the carrier means 9 extends through the pair ofadjoining notches 17a, 17b of a pair of adjoining reflector sections 10,so that in this way the portions 13 of the reflector sections are guidedfor movement between the projections 18 enabling the reflector sectionsto turn toward and away from the reflector axis while at the same timethe projections 18 prevent circumferential movement of the reflectorsections 10. According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, however, eachintermediate portion 13 of the reflector sections 10 is formed with anopening 19 which forms a cutout receiving a projection 20 of the carriermeans 9', so that in this way while the rear end portions 12' engage thecarrier means 9' to provide a mounting of the reflector sections 10 forturning movement toward and away from the reflector axis, at the sametime the projections 20 extend through the openings 19 of the reflectorsections 10, respectively, in order to limit and prevent circumferentialmovement of the several reflector sections 10.

Moreover, as is indicated in FIG. 5, each reflector section 10 isprovided at one side with a projecting portion 21 slidably engaging theinner reflecting face of the neighboring reflector section 10, so thatthese portions 21 of the several reflector sections 10 maintain thesereflector sections in overlapping relationship with respect to eachother during all of their movements toward and away from the reflectoraxis.

The carrier means 9 is shiftable along the axis of the reflector meansfor bringing about the movement of the reflector sections 10 betweentheir closed and open positions, and for this purpose a pair ofmanually-engageable .members 22 and 23 (FIG. 3) are available to theoperator. These manually-engageable members 22 and 23 are respectivelyfixedly carried by a pair of pins 24 and 25 which respectively extendthrough a pair of elongated slots 26 and 27 formed in the tubularportion 2 of the housing 1, and these slots 26 and 27 extend parallel tothe axis of the reflector. The tubular portion 2 of the housing 1terminates at its front end in an opening 28 through which the reflectorsections 10 pass, and adjacent to the ends of the slots 26 and 27 whichare nearest to the open end 28 of the tubular portion 2, which is to saythe front ends of the slots 26 and 27, these slots are respectivelyformed with a pair of circumferential notches 29, the circumferentialnotch 29 of the slot 27 extending from the upper edge of the slot 27 asviewed in FIG. 1, while the circumferential notch 29 of the slot 26extends downwardly from its lower edge. These notches 29 are positionedat the same location relative to the axis of the reflector means, andthe same is true of the pins 24 and 25. Thus, these pins 24 and 25 canbe moved either all the way to the front ends of the slots 26 and 27 orthey may be moved to a position slightly to the rear of the front endsof the slots 26 and 27, and in this latter position the pins 24 and 25together with the members 22 and 23 as well as the carrier means 9 canbe turned through a small angle so that the pins 24 and. 25 will bereceived in the notches 29, and these notches 29 will now serve toretain the carrier means 9 in the position of FIG. 4 where it isslightly to the rear of the position indicated in FIG. 3.

In order to guide the carrier means 9 smoothly along the axis of thereflector means without any possibility of angular tilting of thecarrier means 9 with respect to the axis of the reflector means, thecarrier means 9 is provided with a pair of integral rearwardly extendingportions 30 and 31 which respectively form parts of a cylinder whichcoincides with the inner surface of the tubular portion 2 of the housing1, so that in this way the extensions 30 and 31 increase the area ofslidable engagement between the carrier means 9 and the tubular portion2 of the housing 1 and thus provide an effective guide for the carriermeans 9 during longitudinal movement thereof along the axis of thereflector means. In order to reduce the length of the entire assemblythe transverse wall 6 which interconnects the inner and outer tubularportions 7 and 2 of the housing 1 is formed with a pair of arcuate slots32 and 33 the outer edges of which coincide with the inner surface ofthe tubular portion 2 of the housing 1, and the width of the slots 32and 33 corresponds to the thickness of the portions 30 and 31 of theguide means 9 as well as to the angular length thereof so that theseextensions 30 and 31 can move freely through the slots 32 and 33,respectively, and thus in the inner or rear position of the carriermeans 9 shown in FIG. 2 the extensions 39 and 31 will extend through thewall 6 so as to decrease in this way the length of the assembly betweenits front and rear sides. The extensions 30 and 31 will move through theslots 32 and 33, respectively, during rearward movement of the carriermeans 9 along the tubular support means 7, this rearward movement of thecarrier means 9 bringing about the movement of the reflector sections totheir closed position indicated in FIG. 2 where the reflector sections10 are housed within the housing 1.

As was indicated above, the open end 28 of the tubular portion 2 of thehousing 1 is located at the front of the housing 1. At the rear of thehousing 1 is located a rear cover 34 which is removably connected to theremainder of the housing 1. This rear cover 34 is formed by a pair ofparallel wall means 35 and 36. The wall means 35 is provided with anintegral endless lip 37 which surrounds and engages an integral endlesslip 38 of the wall means 36, so that in this way there is defined by thepair of wall means a chamber 39 which is closed at its outer peripheryby the cooperation of the lips 37 and 38, as is shown most clearly inFIG. 2. Moreover, these lips, and the lip 37 in particular, define withthe outer peripheries of the pair of wall means 35 and 36 an endless gap40. The hollow chamber 39 between the pair of wall' means 35 and 36serves to accommodate a springy electrical contact member 41 whichextends through slots in the wall means 36 to the front side thereof, asis apparent from FIGS. 1 and 2, while the endless gap 40 serves toreceive the coiled cable 42 which may be coiled into the gap 40 when theflashlamp assembly is not in use, and the cable 42 terminates in a plug43.

An elongated fastener member 44, in the form of an elongated hollowtube, is supported for free rotation by the cover 34, and it will benoted that the wall means 36 is formed with an opening through which thefastener member 44 passes, and the wall means 35 is also formed with anopening through which the fastener member 44 passes, this fastenermember having an outer flange engaging the rear surface of the wallmeans 36, as shown in FIG. 2. The fastener member 44 is provided at itsinner or front end portion with an outer thread 45. A tubular nut member47 is fixedly carried by the tubular portion 7 of the housing 1 at therear end portion of the tubular portion 7, coaxially therewith, and thetubular nut member 47 is provided with an inner thread 46 mating withand threadedly receiving the outer thread 45 of the fastener member 44,so that this fastener member can be threaded into the tubular nut member47 for releasably fixing the cover 34 on the housing ll. These tubularmembers 44 and 47 also function as a guide and support for an elongatedejector rod 48 forming an ejecting means for ejecting from theflash-lamp assembly a lamp which has already been ignited and burnt out.Thus, the ejector rod 48 forms an ejector means whose axis coincideswith the axis of the reflector means, and it will be noted from FIG. 2that a spring is within the tubular portion 7 surrounding the ejectorrod 48 and engaging a member fixed to the front end thereof for urgingthe rod 48 forwardly to the illustrated position where a shoulder of therod 48 engages the front wall of the tubular nut member 47. When thelamp is introduced into the front end of the tubular portion 7 of thehousing 1 the rod 48 is moved rearwardly in opposition to the springwhich urges the latter forwardly, and when it is desired to eject thelamp the operator simply pushes the rod 48 forwardly to the illustratedposition. A computer disc 49 coaxially surrounds the tubular fastenermember 44, this disc 49 having an inner lip at its front face whichextends partly around the edge of the opening of the wall means 35through which the fastener member 44 passes, so that in this way thecomputer disc 49 is prevented from moving axially with respect to thewall means 35 so as to remain connected thereto while at the same timebeing freely turnable on the wall means 35. The wall means 35 carries atits rear exposed surface a stationary disc 50 carrying a scale whichcooperates with the computer disc 49 in a manner well know in the art toenable the operator to determine the aperture at which the diaphragm ofthe camera should be set when making a photograph with flash exposure.

It will be noted that there is defined within the housing 1 between thetransverse wall 6 and the cover 34 thereof, above the chamber 4 whichreceives the battery 5 an additional hollow chamber 51, and within thehollow chamber 51 is mounted the elongated condenser 52 which extendstransversely with respect to the axis AA of the battery 5. The condenser52 is thus located in a space within the housing 1 which is in any eventfree so that with this construction the best possible use is made of theavailable space. As is apparent from FIG. 1, one end of the condenser 52is connected by a conductor 53 with the rear end end of an elongatedspringy electrically conductive member 54 which extends longitudinallythrough the tubular portion 7 of the housing along the inner suface ofthe tubular portion 7. The other end of the condenser 52 is electricallyconnected through an unillustrated resistance with the negative pole ofthe battery 5. The battery 5 is electrically connected through thespringy electrically conductive contact member 41 with the secondelongated electrically conductive springy member 55 which extends alongthe interior of the tubular portion 7 at a part thereof diametricallyopposed to the springy member 54, as is apparent from FIG. 3, and itwill be noted from FIG. 1 that the upper free end of the springy member41 located at the front of the cover 34 'is laterally offset withrespect to its lower end which engages the positive pole of the battery5, so that this upper free end of the member 41 shown in FIG. 1 canengage the rear end of the member 55 shown in FIG. 3. The pair ofspringy members 54 and 55 serve at their front ends to releasably retaina lamp within the front end portion of the tubular part 7 of the housing1, so that this member 7 serves also as a lamp receptacle, as waspointed out above. In addition the pair of electrical conductors of thecable 42 are respectively connected with the electrically conductivemember 55 and with the end of the condenser 52 which is connected to theresistance.

The housing 1 fixedly carries at its underside a foot member 56 ofsubstantially T-shaped cross section adapted to be slidably receivedwithin a shoe which is carried by the camera, in a manner well known inthe art, and this foot member 56 is formed with a cutout 57 arrangedsubstantially centrally of the foot member 56 and having a configurationmating with that of the plug 43 at the end of the cable 42 so that thisplug 43 can be received within the cutout 57 as is shown in dot-dashlines in FIG. 2, the lower wall of the housing I also being formed withan opening through which part of the plug 43 passes, as indicated inFIG. 2, so that in this way when the flash-lamp assembly of theinvention is not connected to the camera and is to be carried about thecable 42 may be coiled within the gap 40 and the plug 43 can beaccommodated in the cutout 57 so that there are no portions of the cableextending from the flash-lamp assembly at this time and the flash-lampassembly is therefore capable of being carried about in an extremelyconvenient manner. As is apparent from FIG. 1 the cable 42 passesthrough an opening formed in an upper portion of the wall means 36located beyond the lip 37 of the wall means 35.

In order to place the flash-lamp assembly of the invention in acondition Where it will be ready to make an exposure, the assembly beingshown in its inoperative position in FIGS, 1 and 2, with the reflectormeans closed,

the cable 42 is unwound after the plug 43 has been removed from thecutout 57. Then the opera-tor engages members 22 and 23 and shifts themforwardly so that the carrier means 9 is moved in a direction of thearrow b of FIG. 3. During this movement the several reflector sectionsslide along the inner surface of the tubular portion 2 of the housing 1.When the carrier means 9 has been shifted forwardly through a sufficientdistance, the spring 14 is capable of contracting and thus turning thereflector sections 10 away from the axis of the reflector means towardtheir open position, and this action will continue during the rest ofthe forward movement of the carrier means 9, this forward movement beinglimited by engagement of the pins 24 and 25 with the front ends of theslots 26 and 27, as pointed out above. In this way the reflectorsections 10 will be autoatically moved from the closed position of FIG.2 to the open position of FIG. 3, and of course during the returnmovement of the carrier means 9 from the position of FIG. 3 to that ofFIG. 2 the tubular portion 2 will cooperate with the reflector sections10 for automatically moving them in opposition to the spring means 14back toward the axis of the reflector means to their closed positionindicated in FIG. 2.

In the event that the exposure is to be made with an objective of normalor shorter-than-normal focal length, the carrier means 9 is moved to itsforwardmost position indicated in FIG. 3 where the pins 24 and 25 engagethe front ends of the slots 26 and 27, and in this position thereflector sections 10 engage the front edge of the portion 9a of thecarrier means 9, as indicated in FIG. 3. However, the structure can beso designed that in the end position of the reflector sections 10 shownin FIG. 3 these sections engage the outwardly directed flange at thefront end of the inner portion 9b of the carrier means 9 in order tolimit the movement of the reflector sections toward their open position.

In the case, however, where the exposure is to be made with an objectiveof longer-than-normal focal length, normal focal length of an objectivebeing on the order of 50 mm., then the manually-engageable members 22and 23 are moved forwardly only through a distance suflicient to locatethe pins 24 and 25 in alignment with the circumferential notches 29, andthen the members 22 and 23 are turned slightly so as to. locate the pinsin these notches, as described above, and the parts are shown in thisposition in FIG. 4. It will be noted that in this position the reflectorsections 10 engage the front edge of the tubular portion 12 whichdefines the opening 28, and as a result they are now in an open positionwhere they are located nearer to the reflector axis than in the case ofFIG. 3, so that as a result the light beam cannot spread to the extentthat it can with the open position of FIG. 3, and thus with the positionshown in FIG. 4 a more concentrated light beam will be provided by thereflector means, such a concentrated light beam being more suitable forexposures made with an objective of a relatively long focal length.

Of course, as is well known in the art, the lamp carried by the tubularportion 7 will be ignited when the shutter of the camera is actuated inorder to make an exposure.

After the exposure has been made the lamp is ejected by the ejectormeans 48, and then the elements 22 and 23 are returned by the operatorto their rear position where the pins 24 and 25 are located adjacent therear ends of the slots 26 and 27, respectively, and the parts are shownin this position in FIG. 2. It will be noted that during the returnmovement of the carrier means 9 to the position of FIG. 2 it iscompletely unnecessary for the operator to manipulate any elements forthe purpose of covering the reflector sections 10, and the tubularportion 2 cooperates with these reflector sections 10 to turn them inopposition to the spring means 14 back toward the axis of the reflectormeans to the closed position indicated in FIG. 2.

In order to change the battery 5 it is only necessary for the operatorto unscrew the fastening element 44- so as to separate it from thetubular nut member 47, and now the entire cover 34 can be removed fromthe housing, this cover 34 being shown in this position in FIG. 1.Inasmuch as the contact 41 for the battery 5 is carried by the cover 34,when this cover 34 is removed it is an extremely simple matter to removethe battery 5 from the housing 1 and to replace it with another battery.

According to the reflector embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7 thereflector sections 10" are made of a springy material such as springsteel, for example, and their rear end portions 12 are fixed to theinner part of the carrier means 9" by rivets 58, so that in theembodiment of FIG. 7 the rivets 58 form a means for yieldably retainingthe reflector sections 10 in their open position. The end portions 12"extend at an angle with respect to the remainder of the reflectorsections 10", as indicated in FIG. 7, and the intermediate portions 13of this embodi ment can have either the structure shown in FIG. 5 or thestructure shown in FIG. 6. With this construction the inherentresiliency of the reflector sections urges them to their open position,and they are turned to their closed position in opposition to theirinherent resiliency by the tubular portion 2, as described above. Ifdesired, with the embodiment of FIG. 7 only the portions 13 need be madeof a springy material since in this case even if the remainder of eachreflector section is relatively rigid the inherent resiliency of theportions 13 will serve to urge the reflector sections to their openposition.

A further possibility of a reflector construction is illustrated in FIG.8 where reflector sections 10" substantially similar to the reflectorsections Ill of FIG. 5 are provided. It will be noted, however, that thespring means 14 and the portions 15 and 12a of the reflector sections ofFIG. 5 are not included in FIG. 8. With the embodiment of FIG. 8 thereis located between the rear free end portion 12 of the reflectorsection-s 10 and the projections 18", which correspond to theprojections 18 of FIG. 5, a ring 59 made of a springy material andhaving at its outer periphery a plurality of springy projections 60which are bent forwardly in the manner indicated in FIG. 8. Thesespringy projections 60 engage the inner surfaces of the severalreflector sections 10', respectively, and urge the reflector sections 10to their open position in which they are shown in FIG. 8. Duringmovement of the carrier means 9" of FIG. 8 to its inner closed positionthe tubular portion 2 of the housing 1 also cooperates with thereflector sections 10" to turn them toward the axis of the reflectormeans to their closed 9 position, and during this time the reflectorsections 10 are turned in opposition to the force of the springyprojections 60 which bend inwardly as they yield in order to permit thereflector sections 10" to turn to their closed position. However, assoon as the carrier means 9 is shifted forwardly in the manner describedabove the springy projections 60 will .act to open the reflector means.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types offlash-lamp assemblies differing from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied inflash-lamp assemblies with reflectors, it is not intended to be limitedto the details shown, since various modifications and structural changesmay be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the presentinvention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can by applying current knowledgereadily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this inventionand, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to becomprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of thefollowing claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a flash-lamp assembly, in combination, reflector means having areflector axis and including a plurality of reflector sectionsdistributed about said axis; carrier means carrying said reflectorsections and mounting them for turning movement between an inoperativeclosed position turned toward and an operative open position turned awayfrom said axis; support means supporting said carrier means for shiftingmovement along said axis between a first inoperative and a secondoperative position, said support means including a tubular lampreceptacle and a housing part of which coaxially surrounds said tubularlamp receptacle and forms therewith an elongated annular chamber inwhich said carrier means is slidable; opening means for turning saidreflector section automatically from said inoperative closed into saidoperative open position thereof when said carrier means carrying saidreflector sections is shifted together with said reflector sections intosaid second operative position thereof; and closing means turning saidreflector sections automatically from said operative open into saidinoperative closed position thereof when said carrier means carryingsaid reflector sections is shifted together with said reflector sectionsinto said first inoperative position thereof.

2, In a flash-lamp assembly, in combination, reflector means having areflector axis and including a plurality of separate reflector sectionsdistributed about said axis; carrier means carrying said reflectorsections and mounting them for turning movement between an inoperativeclosed position turned toward and an operative open position turned awayfrom said axis, said carrier means having a substantially U-shaped crosssection and each separate reflector section having a free end portionextending at a given angle with respect to the remainder of eachreflector section and located within said carrier means; support meanssupporting said carrier means for shifting movement along said axisbetween a first inoperative and a second operative position; openingmeans for turning said reflector section automatically from saidinoperative closed into said operative open position thereof when saidcarrier means carrying said reflector sections is shifted together withsaid reflector sections into said second operative position thereof; andclosing means surrounding said reflector sections and engaging the samefor turning said reflector sections automatically from said operativeopen into said inoperative closed position thereof when said carriermeans carrying said reflector sec- 1G tions is shifted together withsaid reflector sections into said first inoperative position thereof.

3. In a flash-lamp assembly, in combination, reflector means having areflector axis and including a plurality of reflector sectionsdistributed about said axis and each having a free end portion extendingat a given angle with respect to the remainder of the reflector section;carrier means carrying said reflector sections and supporting them attheir free end portions for respective turning movement toward said axisto a closed position and away from said axis to an open position; and anendless coil spring surrounding and engaging said free end portions ofsaid reflector sections for urging the latter from said closed to saidopen position thereof.

4. In a flash-lamp assembly, in combination, reflector means having areflector axis and including a plurality of reflector sectionsdistributed about said axis and each having a free end portion extendingat a given angle with respect to the remainder of the reflector section,each reflector section being made of a springy material at least at theportion of each reflector section which is adjacent to its free endportion; and carriers means carrying said reflector sections andsupporting them for turning movement toward said axis to a closedposition and away from said axis to an open position, said free endportions of said reflector sections being respectively fixed to saidcarrier means and said springy portions of said reflector sectionsurging them to their open position so that said reflector sections areturned with respect to said carrier means to their closed positions inopposition to the inherent resiliency of said springy portions of saidreflector sections.

5. In a flash-lamp assembly, in combination, reflector means having areflector axis and including a plurality of reflector sectionsdistributed about said axis and each having a free end portion extendingat a given angle with respect to the remainder of the reflector section;annular carrier means carrying said reflector sections and mounting themfor respective turning movement toward said axis to a closed positionand away from said axis to an open position, said free end portions ofsaid reflector sections engaging said carrier means; and a ringsurrounding and carried by said carrier means and respectively havlngspringy tongues engaging said reflector sections and urging the latterto turn away from said axis to said open position, so that saidreflector sections are turned toward said axis to said closed positionin opposition to said springy tongues of said ring.

6. In a flash-lamp assembly, in combination, reflector means having areflector axis and including a plurality of reflector sectionsdistributed about said axis and each having a free end portion extendingat an angle with respect to the remainder of the reflector section;annular carrier means carrying said reflector sections at said free endpor trons thereof and mounting said reflector sections for turnlngmovement toward said axis to a closed position and away from said axisto an open position, said carrier means being of an annularconfiguration and having a plurality of radial projections and saidreflector sections being formed with cutouts into which said projectionsextend for preventing circumferential movement of said reflectorsections with respect to said axis.

7. In a flash-lamp assembly, in combination, reflector means having areflector axis and including a plurality of reflector sectionsdistributed about said axis and each having a free end portion extendingat an angle with respect to the remainder of the reflector section;annular carrier means carrying said reflector sections at said free endportions thereof and mounting said reflector sections for turningmovement toward said axis to a closed position and away from said axisto an open position, said carrier means being of an annularconfigurattion and having a plurality of radial projections and saidreflector sections being formed with cutouts into which said projectionsextend for preventing circumferential movement of said reflectorsections with respect to said axis, said cutouts being in the form ofnotches in said reflector sections extending inwardly from a pair ofopposed side edges of each reflector section and said projectionsextending into said notches.

8. In a flash-lamp assembly, in combination, reflector means having areflector axis and including a plurality of reflector sectionsdistributed about said axis and each having a free end portion extendingat an angle with respect to the remainder of the reflector section;annular carrier means carrying said reflector sections at said free endportions thereof and mounting said reflector sections for turningmovement toward said axis to a closed position and away from said axisto an open position, said carrier means being of an annularconfiguration and having a plurality of radial projections and saidreflector sections being formed with cutouts into which said projectionsextend for preventing circumferential movement of said reflectorsections with respect to said axis, said cutouts being in the form ofopenings passing through said reflector sections, respectively, and saidprojections of said carrier means respectively extending through saidopenings.

9. In a flash-lamp assembly, in combination, reflector means having areflector axis and including a plurality of reflector sectionsdistributed about said axis; annular carrier means extending around saidaxis and carrying said reflector sections, said carrier means mountingsaid reflector sections for turning movement toward said axis to anoperative closed position and away from said axis to a plurality ofoperative open positions where said reflector sections are locatedrespectively at different distances from said axis to provide differentdegrees of concentration of a beam of light reflected by said reflectormeans; support means supporting said carrier means for shifting movementalong said axis between an inoperative first and a plurality ofoperative second positions; opening means for turning said reflectorsections automatically from said inoperative closed into one of saidoperative open positions thereof when said carrier means is shiftedtogether with said reflector sections into the corresponding one of saidoperative second positions thereof; and closing means turning saidreflector sections automatically from said one operative open into saidinoperative closed position thereof when said carrier means is shiftedtogether with said reflector sections into said inoperative firstposition thereof, said closing means including means cooperating withsaid sections in response to shifting of said carrier means along saidaxis for determining the particular operative open position of saidreflector sections so that in accordance with the position of saidcarrier means along said reflector axis said sections will be opened toa greater or lesser degree, said means for determining the extent ofopening movement of said reflector sections being in the form of ahousing which surrounds said support means and defines therewith anannular chamber in which said carrier means is slidable, said housingterminating in an edge which engages said reflector sections at theirnon-reflecting surfaces to limit the extent of opening movement thereof,and said carrier means itself having an edge portion engaging saidreflector sections to provide therefor an operative open positiondifferent from that which is provided by said housing.

10. In a flash-lamp assembly, in combination, reflector means having areflector axis and including a plurality of reflector sectionsdistributed about said axis; carrier means carrying said reflectorsections and mounting them for movement toward said axis to a closedposition and away from said axis to an open position, and each reflectorsection having a tab shaped lateral extension projecting beyond an edgethereof and slidably engaging the neighboring reflector section andsliding therealong during opening and closing movement of said sectionsfor maintaining said sections in overlapping relationship with respectto each other during their closing and opening move- I ment.

11. In a flash-lamp assembly, in combination, reflector means having areflector axis and including a plurality of reflector sectionsdistributed about said axis; annular carrier means extending around saidaxis and carrying said reflector sections, said carrier means mountingsaid sections for movement toward said axis to a closed position andaway from said axis to an open position; elongated tubular support meansadapted to receive a lamp and extending through and slidably supportingsaid carrier means for shifting movement along said axis; and a housinghaving a tubular portion surrounding said support means and definingtherewith an elongated annular chamber in which said carrier means isshiftable along said axis, said tubular portion of said housing beingconnected to said support means by a transverse wall of said housing,and said transverse wall of said housing being formed with a pair ofslots passing therethrough, said carrier means having a pair ofelongated extensions slidably engaging said tubular portion of saidhousing for participating in the guiding of said carrier means and saidextensions extending through said slots in at least one position of saidcarrier means so that the latter can be positioned close to said wall.

12. In a flash-lamp assembly, in combination, reflector means having areflector axis and including a plurality of reflector sectionsdistributed about said axis; annular carrier means carrying saidreflector sections and mounting them for movement toward said axis to aclosed position and away from said axis to an open position; elongatedsupport means extending through said annular carrier means andsupporting the latter for axial shifting movement; a housing having atubular portion coaxially surrounding said elongated Support means anddefining therewith an elongated annular chamber in which said carriermeans is shiftable along said axis, said tubular portion of said housingbeing formed with at least one elongated slot extending parallel to saidaxis and with at least one notch extending circumferentially withrespect to said axis from a side edge of said slot; a pin fixed to saidcarrier means and extending through said slot; and a manually-engageablemember carried by said pin at the exterior of said tubular portion ofsaid housing so that said manually engageable member may be engaged bythe operator for moving said pin along said slot so as to shift saidcarrier means along said reflector axis, said pin being receivable insaid notch for maintaining said carrier means in a given position withrespect to said axis where said reflector sections are in their openposition.

13. In a flash-lamp assembly, in combination, reflector means having areflector axis and including a plu rality of reflector sections aboutsaid axis; annular carrier means carrying said reflector sections andsupporting them for turning movement toward said axis to an inoperativeclosed position and away from said axis to an operative ppen position;housing means having an inner tubular portion extending through saidannular carrier means and slidably supporting the same for shiftingmovement along said axis between a first inoperative and a secondoperative position, said inner tubular portion of said housing beingadapted to receive a lamp, said housing means also having an outertubular portion surroundlng said inner tubular portion and definingtherewith an elongated annular chamber in which said carrier means isshiftable with respect to said reflector axis, and said housing meanshaving an additional housing portion for accommodating a battery in aposition where the axis of the battery extends parallel to the reflectoraxis; opening means for turning said reflector sections automaticallyfrom said inoperative closed into said operative open position thereofwhen said carrier means carrying said reflector sections is shiftedtogether with said reflector sections into said second operativeposition thereof; and closing means turning said reflector sectionsautomatically from said opera-tive open into said inoperative closedposition thereof when said carrier means carrying said reflectorsections is shifted together with said reflector sections into saidfirst inoperative position thereof.

14. In a flash-lamp assembly, in combination, reflector means having areflector axis and including a plurality of reflector sectionsdistributed about said axis; annular carrier means carrying saidreflector sections and supporting them for movement toward said axis toa closed position and away from said axis to an open position; housingmeans having an inner tubular portion extending through said annularcarrier means and slidably supporting the same for shifting movementalong said axis, said inner tubular portion of said housing beingadapted to receive a lamp, said housing means also having an outertubular portion surrounding said inner tubular portion and definingtherewith an elongated annular chamber in which said carrier means isshiftable with respect to said reflector axis, and said housing meanshaving an additional housing portion for accommodating a battery in aposition where the axis of the battery extends parallel to but is offsetfrom the reflector axis; elongated ejector means having an axiscoinciding with said reflector axis and supported by said housing meansfor shifting movement along said axis for ejecting a lamp from saidinner tubular portion of said housing; and means carried by said housingin the region in which said battery is accommodated for supporting acondenser in a position substantially adjacent said battery.

15. In a flash-lamp assembly, in combination, reflector means having areflector axis and including a plurality of reflector sectionsdistributed about said axis; annular carrier means carrying saidreflector sections and supporting them for movement toward said axis toa closed position and away from said axis to an open position; andhousing means having an inner tubular portion extending through saidannular carrier means and slidably supporting the same shifting movementalong said axis, said inner tubular portion of said housing beingadapted to receive a lamp, said housing means also having an outertubular portion surrounding said inner tubular portion and definingtherewith an elongated annular chamber in which said carrier means isshiftable with respect to said reflector axis, and said housing meanshaving an additional housing portion for accommodating an elongatedbattery in a position substantially coextending with said elongatedannular chamber with the axis of the battery extending parallel to thereflector axis, said outer tubular portion of said housing terminatingat a front side of said housing in a free edge defining an openingthrough which said reflector sections pass during axial movement of saidcarrier means, and said housing having a rear side and including aremovable cover located at said rear side of said housing means.

16. In a flash-lamp assembly, in combination, a housing and a pair ofWall means defining a rear cover for said housing, one of said pair ofwall means being provided with a pair of spaced openings, said pair ofwall means cooperating with each other to define inwardly of the outerperipheries of said pair of wall means an inner chamber whichcommunicates with said openings and in which an elongated springyelectrical contact is located and outwardly of said inner chamberbetween the latter and the outer peripheries of said pair of wall meansan endless gap in which an electrical cable is adapted to be coiled,said elongated springy electrical contact being arranged to extend insaid chamber from the one to the other of said pair of openings.

17. In a flash-lamp assembly, in combination, an inner tubular housingportion, an outer tubular housing portion coaxially surrounding saidinner tubular housing portion, and a transverse wall interconnectingsaid inner and outer tubular housing portions, said wall being formednext to said outer tubular housing portion with a pair of diametricallyopposed arcuate slots; annular carrier means located between said innerand outer tubular portions of said housing and shiftable therealong,said carrier means having a pair of extensions which engage said outertubular portion for guiding said carrier means and which extendrespectively through said slots in a rear position of said carriermeans; and reflector means having an axis coinciding with the commonaxis of said tubular portions and including a plurality of reflectorsections distributed about said axis of said reflector means and carriedby said carrier means for movement toward said common axis to a closedposition and away from said common axis to an open position.

18. In a flash-lamp assembly, in combination, reflector means having areflector axis and including a plurality of reflector sectionsdistributed about said axis and each having a free end portion extendingat a given angle with respect to the remainder of the reflector section;carrier means carrying said reflector sections and supporting them attheir free end portions for respective turning movement toward said axisto a closed position and away from said axis to an open position; andbiasing means at said free end portions of said reflector sections forurging the latter from said closed to said open position thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,204,350 11/16Flory 240-4627 X 1,300,454 4/19 Nikonow 240-818 1,305,498 6/ 19Schroeder 240-4629 1,493,730 5/24 Cadmus 240-8.18 2,205,860 6/40 Olds240-13 2,662,968 12/53 Saraber 240-13 2,707,780 5/55 Heller et al24010.6 2,738,476 3/56 Buguor 240-13 X 2,780,720 2/57 Bertrams 240-132,851,668 9/58 Kobler et al 339-147 X 2,864,938 12/58 Shaw et al 240-1.3X 2,868,958 1/59 Bounds -11.5 X 2,897,928 8/59 Selig 240-2 2,938,1105/60 Busch et a1. 240-818 3,075,070 1/63 Lipsitz 240-13 3,077,534 2/63Brandt 240-13 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,203,148 7/59 France.

549,332 4/32 Germany.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

15. IN A FLASH-LAMP ASSEMBLY, IN COMBINATION, REFLECTOR MEANS HAVING AREFLECTOR AXIS AND INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF REFLECTOR SECTIONSDISTRIBUTED ABOUT SAID AXIS; ANNULAR CARRIER MEANS CARRYING SAIDREFLECTOR SECTIONS AND SUPPORTING THEM FOR MOVEMENT TOWARD SAID AXIS TOA CLOSED POSITION AND AWAY FROM SAID AXIS TO AN OPEN POSITION; ANDHOUSING MEANS HAVING AN INNER TUBULAR PORTION EXTENDING THROUGH SAIDANNULAR CARRIER MEANS AND SLIDABLY SUPPORTING THE SAME SHIFTING MOVEMENTALONG SAID AXIS, SAID INNER TUBULAR PORTION OF SAID HOUSING BEINGADAPTED TO RECEIVE A LAMP, SAID HOUSING MEANS ALSO HAVING AN OUTERTUBULAR PORTION SURROUNDING SAID INNER TUBULAR PORTION AND DEFININGTHEREWITH AN ELONGATED ANNULAR CHAMBER IN WHICH SAID CARRIER MEANS ISSHIFTABLE WITH RESPECT TO SAID REFLECTOR AXIS, AND SAID HOUSING MEANSHAVING AN ADDITIONAL HOUSING PORTION FOR ACCOMMODATING AN ELONGATEDBATTERY IN A POSITION SUBSTANTIALLY COEXTENDING WITH SAID ELONGATEDANNULAR CHAMBER WITH THE AXIS OF THE BATTERY EXTENDING PARALLEL TO THEREFLECTOR AXIS, SAID OUTER TUBULAR PORTION OF SAID HOUSING TERMINATINGAT A FRONT SIDE OF SAID HOUSING IN A FREE EDGE DEFINING AN OPENINGTHROUGH WHICH SAID REFLECTOR SECTIONS PASS DURING AXIAL MOVEMENT OF SAIDCARRIER MEANS AND SAID HOUSING HAVING A REAR SIDE AND INCLUDING AREMOVABLE COVER LOCATED AT SAID REAR SIDE OF SAID HOUSING MEANS.